The Dickinson press., 1887-10-22
A POPULAR FOOD FISH.
BUT LITTLE KNOWN OF THE sAR-
DINE AND ITS HABITS.

BUT LITTLE KNOWN OF THE SAR-
DINE AND ITS HABITS.
Its Homo Supposed to bo In Deep Ocean
waters-Two Kinds Known-Along the
Breton Coast-A Serious Question-The
Catch.
The sardine is one of the most popular Of
food fishes and one Of the best known to
epicures, yet there remains much that is
obscure to the scientist inits origin and habits
1t is like the wind in this respect; that no one
knows whence it cometh and whittier it
goeth. Its true home is supposed to be some
where in the deep waters Of the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans, whence it enlerges when the
spring begins and makes its way against the
cool currents that sweep southwark along the
western coasts of the two great continents.
1t has been for many years the chief means
OF support of largo portion of the popula-
tion of Brittany, and it is to French Observers
chiefly that we have to look for information
regarding it. But even French scientists do
not know why it leaves tue deep waters of the
ocean to appear at certain epochs along
the coasts.
sardine, which is caught from June to Octo.
Der, and the sardine de derive which is larger
and is called the pilchard by the English.
The first is the sartline of commerce and of
the gourmets. The latter is supposed to be
the same fish, but older. The first enters the
bays and shallow waters. The other seems
to be making its way, with the nackcrel, to
cold northern latitudes to spawn, though
those caught as far north as the island Of
Glenan, off the coast of Scotland, have their
eggs still immature Sometimes successive
swarms of sardines OF different sizes visit the
coast of Brittany successively, and in turn
disappear. having probably returned to their
deep sea homes. AT other times they enter
certain bays and remain all summer, SEEM
ingly without fear and constantly increasing
i'll size. Changes in the temperature of the
water are presumed to have much to do with
their migrations, and perhaps the question Of
food, though in this respect they seem to have
no special preferences.
ALMOST CEASED ITS VISITS
The fishermen along he Breton coast COM
plain that Of late years the sarline has almost
ceased its visits, and that their industry is
ruined. The scientists affirm that there is 10
reason for supposing that there are less i'll ex-
istence, and that they will probably return.
The herring has for hundreds of years been
caught annually in immense quantities along
the western coast Of Europe, hut its numbers
are apparently undiminished. Since 1850 it
has disappeared twice from the coast of Nor
way, each time for n long series of years
that is, from 1867 to 1914 and from 1854 to
100, and has then returned as numerous as
ever Tho sardine and the pilchard have in
similar manner, diminished in numbers for
shorter periods several times since the begin
ming of the present century. There have
been periods of famine followed by years of
abundance So it is hoped that the present
scarcity will be brief, and not like the long
intervals of fifty or sixty years of disappear
ance OF the herring from tho coast of Nor
way.
This is question in which the world is in
terested. The sardine Of commerce is par
TALLY grown fish not moro than from year
to eighteen months old When caught it is
simply coming from unknown regions Of the
ocean and passing to other unknown regions
Its motives are unknown. 1t never returns
1t goes further north and grows into larger
fish that is sought and sold under another
name, about which epicures care nothing.
But it is Of the greatest Importance to
the fishermen that in its migrations
it should pass annually through tho same
waters, and offer itself at regular intervals to
its destroyers.
MAGNITUDE OF THE INDUSTRY.
The year 1878 was one of abundance. In
that year, at the little Breton fishing port Of
Concarneau alone, there were caught 40
OO0,0 900 sardines, which were sold for over
half million dollars. This indicates the
magnitude OF the industry i'll France, and
the trouble caused by the fsh's change of
route or Of habits. However great may be
the catch, each fish only represents an ind-
vidual. No eggs are destroyed. Prospective
millions arc not slaughtered as in catching
salmon, cod, herring and other migratory fish
on the way to the spawning grounds; and il
these fish, the salmon excepted, do not de-
crease In numbers under this unfair warfare.
why should the sardtns1
1t 10 certain that while the industry has
languished on the coast OF Brittany, 1t has
f1ourished on the coast Of Portugal, whittier
Some French packers have gone to pursue It.
One of these had caught and packed 6,OOO
cases Of fine quality during the part Of the
season Of 1885, ending July II. When gen.
uine and valuable product shows signs of
failing in the worlds market, its place is sup
piled with similar merchandise of inferior
quality or counterfeited altogether. In &C.
cordance with this principle the delicate sar-
dimes with which France is supplying the
world are in q measure replaced by the young
of other fish prepared in similar manner
by the inferior goods of Spain and Italy, or
Of different localities of the American cont
nent.-San Francisco Chronicle.